There is a split in the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) between government and opposition members on a proposal by acting Auditor General Deodat Sharma to make three senior appointments at the Audit Office.
The third meeting of the PAC, closed to the media yesterday, saw resistance by the five opposition members to the appointments, with particular concern over a potential conflict of interest, Stabroek News was told.
MPs Gail Teixeira and Odinga Lumumba, two of the four government members of the PAC, accused their opposition counterparts of “stymieing efforts at rapprochement.” A Commonwealth parliamentarian visiting Guyana recently expressed surprise that the wife of the Minister of Finance was employed in the country’s Audit Office, which is responsible for the audit of the country’s public accounts.
Under the Standing Orders of the National Assembly the PAC is chaired by the opposition and is one of those committees whose membership is not decided by the Committee of Selection. Previous chairpersons included Volda Lawrence and the late Winston Murray.
A source explained that any appointment of senior officers or employees in the Audit Office requires the prior approval of the PAC and another indicated that it may wish to use this opportunity to address the clear conflict of interest for one key official, integrally involved in the auditing of the financial statements.
Stabroek News’ reporter was asked by the Parliament staff to remove himself from yesterday’s meeting. The PAC meetings are usually public and Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman stated that he would look into the matter.
Chairman of the PAC Carl Greenidge later said that the meeting also dealt with the Audit Office and its staffing and the efficiency of its procedures.
He said that the PAC is yet to commence examination on the 2010 government accounts and the Auditor General’s report thereon but has signalled to the budget agencies that it was ready to meet with them on their accounts and the findings of the Auditor General.
Asked whether the PAC has made efforts to move forward on the appointment of a substantive Auditor General, Greenidge said that the PAC has not yet done so. Sharma has been acting in the post for seven years.
“It was looked at by the PAC [last year during the Ninth Parliament] and I am looking at the recommendations of that PAC,” said Greenidge.
“We need a properly functioning Audit Office in which the Auditor General enjoys the confidence of the PAC,” he added.
After being convened, the PAC held its first meeting on May 28, 2012 during which members engaged Sharma on issues related to public accounts and their audit.
